7 effective tips for treating child’s nasal congestion

If you are parent, then you are very well aware of the nightmare that accompanies cold weather. Be it winters, monsoon or frequently varying temperatures, kids are susceptible of suffering from cough & cold. The major problem for a child is nasal congestion that they suffer from.

As a new parent, I was caught unaware when my child caught cold for the very first time. My kid was unable to breathe or sleep properly and continuously kept on crying. It led to having many sleepless, troublesome nights. That’s when I turned to my mother and sister to get insights from their experience in helping my child feel better.

Using Vaporizer or inhale steam

Breathing moist air helps child by clearing the nasal passage. It is very easy to do and benefits a lot, especially done before the child’s is sleep time. Instead of using a vaporizer you can also sit in a small closed steamy bathroom with the kid. Be attentive to keep the child away from vaporizer or source of the steam.

Saline Water

It is advisable to consult a doctor before using it. Instill drops of saline water in each nostrils to soften the mucus and then clean it with cotton swab to open blocked nose. It is safe and can be repeated numerous times in a day as per need.

Eucalyptus Oil

This is my personal go to solution for the blocked nose. I have been doing it since I was a child. Pour few drops of Eucalyptus oil on a clean cloth and let the child inhale it few times during the day. It helps in getting relief from troubled breathing. But, it would be best if you can test it beforehand, to check if your child is allergic to the oil or not. You can also add few drops to the vaporizer.

Giving liquid diet

A child might feel uncomfortable when trying to eat with a blocked nose. Even as adults we find it difficult. The solution is to increase liquid intake to keep the child hydrated and avoid dry sour throat. Breastfeeding is also a helpful technique to soothe the child.

Sleeping in elevated position

The child might feel suffocated due to clogged nose and have trouble breathing while sleeping. To avoid this add extra pillows under the head to make them sleep in elevated position. It works wonder and provides some respite from breathing troubles. A child that sleeps well is a happy child.

Oil Massage

Gently massage your child’s chest, back, neck and nose with lukewarm oil. You can use mustard oil or olive oil for it. It generates heat in the body and makes baby fall asleep comfortably. Cover the baby with proper clothing and blanket after the massage.

Using Nasivion nasal drops

Nasivion decongestants formula is also an effective way to fight nasal congestion. Nasal drops come in various variants according to the child’s age and can be used as per doctor’s advice. My doctor advised me to use Nasivion Mini for my child as he was just few months old at that time. Different products that are available in the market are –

Glad that you wrote a post on Nasal congestion , it is such a common problem with my munchkin. Eucalyptus Oil is a great option, but can you suggest from where to get it? Will go for Nasivion drops this time.